June 16, 2015

In his keynote address, Garrison sheds new light on the power of lifelong learning, the paradigm of change in education and the power of technology in the classroom. His high energy talk frames learning as an adventure and leaves participants with a challenge they can put to work right away to innovate their own teaching.

Engage in the science behind gliding flight. Explore the relationship between force and motion and the effects of weight and lift on a glider. Join us and build a glider as you manipulate variables to optimize flight.

Research to Classroom Practice: Best Practice Instructional Strategies for American Indian Students

This session will provide information on the research that has looked at instructional strategies and academic success in American Indian students. A short synopsis of the research will be shared, but more importantly strategies will be included that can be incorporated in the classroom. This session goes beyond culturally responsive pedagogy and the approaches to multicultural education (though just as important) and will provide additional best practice strategies that can be incorporated in all subject areas.

The impact of poverty and homelessness on learning

This session will discuss the effects of poverty and homelessness and their impact on education and learning. We will discuss poverty statistics in the state of Minnesota compared to national statistics and the difference between gender and ethnic groups. In addition we will discuss the current homelessness statistics in Minnesota and what programs are available to help individuals break the cycle of poverty and homelessness to allow for a stable learning environment.Developmental RepairChildren and Trauma

The Anti-Bias Framework: Identity, Diversity, Justice and Action

The Anti-Bias Framework (ABF) is a set of anchor standards and age-appropriate learning outcomes divided into four domains-identity, diversity, justice and action. The standards provide a common language and organizational structure. Teachers and administrators can use them to make schools more just, equitable and safe. The ABF is leveled for every stage of K-12 education and includes school-based scenarios to show what anti-bias attitudes and behavior may look like in the classroom. Attendees will be introduced to the Anti-Bias framework anchor standards and identify ways to integrate them into their profession.

Schoology.com

This course is designed to teach you how to effectively run and operate a Schoology website for your classroom needs. The website allows you to post, grade, and hand back assignments completely electronically. There are also functions available to run safe and secure online discussions. The website is entirely secure, and you are able to control who has access. This is a valuable technological resource that can be implemented in a variety of ways, and you will have the chance to see a few that are currently in use along with having time to create your own!

Google Classroom and Google Apps for Education: A way to lessen a teacher’s workload and to enhance student learning.

21st Century students and learners are different than the students from even 10-15 years ago. Much of this change is due to their immersion into and use of technology. However, much of education has not kept pace with those changes. For schools to remain relevant, we need to find a common ground to meet the changing clientele of schools while still teaching the content and skills required in the 21st Century. One way to do this is through the use of the Google Apps for Education tools and their LMS, Google Classroom.

Online Tools to Engage Students in Science

Online simulations, games, and other PC technology tools will be introduced to engage students in science topics. Participants will practice with the science tools, as well as online tools that can be used for formative assessments of student knowledge and understanding.

Instructional practices in Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

Effective teachers of culturally and linguistically diverse students use what they know about language and about their students to improve learning outcomes for English Language Learners (ELL) and for all learners. This workshop will help participants understand what they need to know about language in the context of supporting culturally and linguistically diverse students in a general curriculum classroom. Classroom practices/strategies informed by understanding of language diversity will be discussed and participants will consider specific practices/strategies that they can incorporate into their classroom practices.

Developing and Sustaining Intercultural Competence for the Classroom Teacher

The world's demographics are changing, but is your school district or even your classroom ready to respond to these changes? This session will help participants to analyze some of the issues schools face around diversity and inclusion. Participants will focus on identifying key issues in meeting the needs of more diverse students, and their families, by providing an inclusive teaching and learning environment. Examine how cultural competence can affect student achievement in the classroom, while exploring opportunities to collaborate and develop strategy, as well as best practices in sustaining an intercultural competent learning environment.